Latest news with #AmericanIndianStudies
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senior Feared He Wouldn't Graduate After Massive Cuts to His School. So, He Protested Until He Lost His Voice (Exclusive)
Tyler Moore was one of many seniors who wondered if they'd be able to graduate when a quarter of the staff at Haskell Indian Nations University was laid off because of federal cuts earlier this year The student leader, who was able to graduate earlier this month, helped organize protests in Lawrence, Kan. and the state capital after the layoffs Moore, who plans on becoming a professor of Native history, says the university recently celebrated its 140th anniversary — and "will absolutely be here for another 140 years"In mid-February, senior Tyler Moore visited his photography professor, Robert Hicks Jr., in his office. The space, located at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan., was usually covered with papers and cameras. But that day, Hicks was packing his belongings into boxes. Moore had heard a rumor that school employees were being laid off as the result of an executive order from the Trump administration. The 22-year-old — who had been elected as the Haskell Brave, a top leadership position in the student body — wanted to offer his support. 'I'm here for you if you need anything,' Moore remembers telling his professor. He left to speak to another student, but when he returned, Hicks was gone. 'His entire studio room is empty,' Moore, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, tells PEOPLE. 'I'm like, this does not feel right. This is just terrible.' In May, Moore graduated with a degree in Indigenous and American Indian Studies, but for days after the mass layoff — part of the Trump administration's plans to cut federal funding and the federal workforce — he worried that his four years of study wouldn't end with a diploma. 'I didn't know if we were going to continue onward,' says Moore, who, at the time, had just hours of credits left before he was set to earn his bachelor's degree. The exit of 30-some employees — which prompted a group of tribal nations and students to file a lawsuit in federal court — also left other seniors reeling. Some students even left the school entirely, according to people familiar with the situation. The president of the university and the Bureau of Indian Affairs did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. By early April, the school was allowed to reinstate employees as part of a judge's order in response to federal workforce cuts, though some did not return, according to The Hechinger Report. But the school was in chaos for two weeks after the initial firings as students navigated new instructors, or no instructors at all, and struggled to catch up with their course work. It was a moment that too closely echoed Haskell's past struggles with the U.S. government. Just one of two federally run colleges for Native people, Haskell has some of the worst outcomes in the country. It's the same location where the U.S. installed a boarding school to assimilate Native children more than 140 years ago and where at least 103 people are buried, The New York Times reported. The school has navigated underfunding and broken promises from the U.S. ever since. But it also provides a sense of community for the indigenous students who attend. Angel Ahtone Elizarraras, student government president at the university, tells PEOPLE she chose to attend Haskell because she knew she "wouldn't feel like an outsider" there. She says the university is a space where she can pray and speak in her language without judgment. For Moore, Haskell provides a 'sense of unity.' He says when the school comes under attack, it 'attacks that sense of cultural identity as well.' The senior, who is Cherokee on his mother's side, had learned of his people's resiliency and history of resistance from his grandfather. So, during that time of uncertainty, when students looked to the Haskell Brave and other leaders like Elizarraras for guidance, they responded. A week after the initial cuts happened, Moore helped organize protests at the state capitol, Topeka, and in downtown Lawrence. At the protest in Topeka, Moore arrived with about 25 fellow students. 'We did round dances as well on the state capitol grounds, healing round dances,' he says. At the end of the protests, in which students shouted 'Hands off Haskell!' their voices were gone. 'I am so proud of my Haskell community throughout all this,' says Moore, whose own grandfather got "fired up" and is proud of what the students accomplished. 'They just showed up and showed out every single time.' When he graduated on Friday, May 9, Moore was also saying goodbye to his title of Haskell Brave. He plans on getting his master's degree in indigenous studies at Kansas University, and dreams of becoming a professor and teaching Native history to other Native scholars. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Meanwhile, he's celebrating that his school is continuing on. After recently marking Haskell's 140th anniversary, Moore says he's encouraged by the students willing to speak out and protest. 'We will absolutely be here for another 140 years,' he says. 'We're going to outlast any piece of executive paper that they throw at us." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
APPLY For Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at The Ohio State University at Newark
Director of the Newark Earthworks CenterThe Ohio State University Newark, OH Department:Newark | GeneralThe Ohio State University at Newark invites applications for Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure. We seek a scholar whose research employs Native American and Indigenous Studies methodologies, foregrounding Indigenous peoples' intellectual traditions, histories, aesthetics, geographies, and other ways of knowing. We welcome applications from publicly engaged scholars with leadership and administrative experience whose research and teaching demonstrates accountability to Indigenous Newark Earthworks Center is an academic research center at The Ohio State University, housed on the Newark campus. The mission of the Newark Earthworks Center is to promote and support research, teaching and engagement by faculty, students, scholars, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders with an interest in the ancestral and contemporary Indigenous places, peoples, cultures and experiences within and around addition to serving in the leadership role, the director will also be a dedicated teacher and productive scholar. The departmental home of the position is open. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art. At The Ohio State University, while faculty teach primarily on their home campus, all faculty members' Tenure-Initiating Units are based in hire follows a concentrated emphasis of hiring faculty in Indigenous studies at Ohio State's Columbus campus over the past several years. The director will have the opportunity to collaborate with the American Indian Studies program in the Center for Ethnic Studies in developing director will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the efforts of World Heritage Ohio to celebrate Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage new director will be expected to develop a clear research focus, based on the NEC mission and the recognition of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a serial World Heritage Site (2023); to collaborate across disciplines, universities, and other Indigenous World Heritage sites; and to communicate the NEC mission effectively with media and constituencies. Performance Objectives • Lead the Newark Earthworks Center, building its profile as an academic research center and its profile on campus and across Licking County, connecting with stakeholders beyond the campus, and bringing attention to the Midwest Indigenous cultures who created the earthworks at the core of the Center's mission; • Expand meaningful research and outreach opportunities for students on the campus; • Develop impactful, productive scholarship consistent with the ongoing missing of the Newark Earthworks Center; • Cultivate productive relationships with tribal governments; • Collaborate with scholars across departments and engage diverse constituencies (including Indigenous communities) inside and outside of the university; • Teach and advise graduate and undergraduate students; and • Seek out external funding that emphasizes the strengths of the NEC's research and outreach efforts (as directed by the Office Academic Affairs). Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) - persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty member's tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice. These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience. Additional Information:QualificationsRequired• A PhD in Indigenous Studies or American Indian Studies or PhD in an allied field (including but not limited to Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art), with a research specialization in Indigenous or American Indian Studies;• Prior academic experience at a research-intensive university;• Demonstrated track record of academic leadership, management and collaboration;• A record of teaching excellence. • Demonstrated ability to facilitate, articulate, execute and/or steward a strategic vision;• Familiarity working with campus administrators and leaders;• A commitment to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for faculty, staff, and students;• Demonstrated experience working with external stakeholders to establish and maintain collaborations;• Experience collaborating with alumni, campus leadership, and external stakeholders to expand financial resources. How to Apply To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Application materials must include the following required documents: Cover letter Curriculum Vita (CV) Statement of Research Statement of Teaching and Mentoring The CollegeWith more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of UniversityOhio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America's leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes' list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer Ohio State University's Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). The CampusThe Ohio State University at Newark offered its first classes in 1957 with a mission to provide affordable, open access to Ohio State for all Ohioans. The Newark campus sits on 188 acres and shares the campus with Central Ohio Technical College. The two institutions have a strong partnership whereby they share all buildings and general-purpose classrooms, approximately 100 staff, operating expenses, and a number of capital equipment investments. Shared departments include Advancement; Business and Finance; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Facilities, Planning and Operations; Library; Marketing and Public Relations; Purchasing and Auxiliary Services; Student Financial Services; and Student Life. Ohio State Newark currently enrolls more than 2,200 students who are taught and mentored by 45 tenure-track faculty who are members of their university-level academic department. Students can complete eight bachelor's degree programs at the Newark Campus and start any of Ohio State's 200+ majors. In addition to excellent academic offerings, students can participate in the Honors program, service learning, education abroad, and a wide variety of student clubs and State Newark is situated near the Ohio State University Columbus campus, presenting great opportunities for new and innovative partnerships to benefit students, faculty, and staff. The future of the campus will be impacted by the significant growth and development in Licking County, including a new Intel facility, expansion of Meta and Google facilities, and more. Students are creating innovative pathways to their degree completion due to the proximity to multiple university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans/disability.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Finally Free': Leonard Peltier heads home to North Dakota
ICT Staff Leonard Peltier is free at last. The longtime American Indian Movement activist was released Tuesday from federal prison in Sumterville, Florida, after 49 years behind bars in what he has long maintained was a wrongful conviction in the deaths of two federal agents during a 1975 standoff at Pine Ridge. 'Today I am finally free!' Peltier said in a statement released by NDN Collective, which has led the recent effort to win his release from prison. 'They have imprisoned me but they never took my spirit!' SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. Peltier, 80, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, left in an SUV and did not stop to speak to nearly two dozen supporters gathered outside the prison gates, The Associated Press reported. He was set to return to his tribal homelands in North Dakota, where a homecoming celebration and community feed were scheduled for Wednesday. 'Leonard Peltier is free!' Nick Tilsen, founder and chief executive at NDN Collective, said in the statement. 'He never gave up fighting for his freedom so we never gave up fighting for him. Today our elder Leonard Peltier walks into the open arms of his people.' Tilsen has called Peltier 'the longest living Indigenous political prisoner in the history of the United States.' In poor health and after years of fighting for his release, Peltier was finally granted clemency by then-President Joe Biden just minutes before Biden left office on Jan. 20. Biden's order will allow Peltier to serve out the remainder of his sentence with home confinement on the reservation. 'This moment would not be happening without [then-Interior] Secretary Deb Haaland and President Biden responding to the calls for Peltier's release that have echoed through generations of grassroots organizing,' said Holly Cook Macarro, who handles government affairs for NDN Collective. 'Today is a testament to the many voices who fought tirelessly for Peltier's freedom and justice.' Peltier, who was an activist with the American Indian Movement during the 1975 standoff, has long maintained he was wrongfully convicted. He was convicted of murder in the deaths of FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, but those convictions were overturned, leaving him with convictions for aiding and abetting in their deaths. A woman who testified that she saw Peltier shoot the agents later recanted, saying she had been coerced into making the statements. 'He represents every person who's been roughed up by a cop, profiled, had their children harassed at school,' said Nick Estes, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe who advocated for Peltier's release. Supporters gathered outside the prison Tuesday, waving signs saying 'Free Leonard Peltier.' 'We never thought he would get out,' said Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who traveled to Florida to be there for Peltier's release. 'It shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.' Not everyone cheered his release, however, Former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who resigned as the Donald Trump took office, called Peltier 'a remorseless killer' in a private letter to Biden obtained by The Associated Press. Peltier had long sought release from prison, and was most recently denied parole in July. He would not have been eligible again for consideration until 2026. He thanked his supporters Tuesday in the written statement and looked ahead to the homecoming. 'Thank you to all my supporters throughout the world who fought for my freedom. I am finally going home. I look forward to seeing my friends, my family, and my community. It's a good day today.' This article contains material from The Associated Press. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter.
Politico
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Leonard Peltier leaves prison after sentence commuted for 1975 slayings
SUMTERVILLE, Florida — Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence to home confinement in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. Peltier, 80, left Coleman penitentiary in an SUV, according to a prison official. He didn't stop to speak with reporters or the roughly two dozen supporters who gathered outside the gates to celebrate his release. Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, was headed back to his reservation, where family and friends will celebrate his release with him on Wednesday and where the tribe arranged a house for him to live in while serving his home confinement. Throughout his nearly half-century in prison, Peltier has maintained that he didn't murder FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a confrontation that day on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Native Americans widely believe he was a political prisoner who was wrongly convicted because he fought for tribal rights as a member of the American Indian Movement. 'He represents every person who's been roughed up by a cop, profiled, had their children harassed at school,' said Nick Estes, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe who advocated for Peltier's release. Biden did not pardon Peltier. But his Jan. 20 commutation of Peltier's sentence to home confinement, noting Peltier had spent most of his life behind bars and was in poor health, prompted criticism from those who believe Peltier is guilty. Among them is former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who called Peltier 'a remorseless killer' in a private letter to Biden obtained by The Associated Press. One of his attorneys, Jenipher Jones, said Peltier was looking forward to going home. 'We're so excited for this moment,' Jones said before his release. 'He is in good spirits. He has the soul of a warrior.' His supporters outside the prison, including some who waved flags saying 'Free Leonard Peltier,' were elated. 'We never thought he would get out,' said Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who traveled to Florida to be there for Peltier's release. 'It shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.' Peltier was active in AIM, which formed in the 1960s and fought for Native American treaty rights and tribal self-determination. Peltier's conviction stemmed from a 1975 confrontation on the in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in which the two FBI agents were killed. According to the FBI, Coler and Williams were there to serve arrest warrants for robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors maintained at trial that Peltier shot both agents in the head at point-blank range. Peltier acknowledged being present and firing a gun at a distance, but he said he fired in self-defense and that his shots weren't the ones that killed the agents. A woman who claimed to have seen Peltier shoot the agents later recanted her testimony, saying it had been coerced. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given two consecutive life sentences. Two other AIM members, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. Many of Peltier's supporters and even some prosecutors have questioned the fairness of his trial and the evidence presented against him. But Michael J. Clark, president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, pointed out that numerous federal judges have denied Peltier's appeals. 'We strongly oppose the commutation of his sentence,' Clark said, calling the decision a 'poor reflection' on Biden. 'This was kind of sprung on everyone at the last minute. Literally in the last minute of his presidency. It's just tough.' Peltier was denied parole as recently as July and was not eligible to be considered for it again until 2026. As a young child, Peltier was taken from his family and sent to a boarding school. Thousands of Indigenous children over decades faced the same fate, and were in many cases subjected to systemic physical, psychological and sexual abuse. 'He hasn't really had a home since he was taken away to boarding school,' said Nick Tilsen, who advocated for Peltier's release for years and is CEO of NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group based in South Dakota. 'So he is excited to be at home and paint and have grandkids running around.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leonard Peltier leaves prison after sentence commuted for 1975 slayings
SUMTERVILLE, Florida — Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence to home confinement in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. Peltier, 80, left Coleman penitentiary in an SUV, according to a prison official. He didn't stop to speak with reporters or the roughly two dozen supporters who gathered outside the gates to celebrate his release. Peltier, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, was headed back to his reservation, where family and friends will celebrate his release with him on Wednesday and where the tribe arranged a house for him to live in while serving his home confinement. Throughout his nearly half-century in prison, Peltier has maintained that he didn't murder FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a confrontation that day on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Native Americans widely believe he was a political prisoner who was wrongly convicted because he fought for tribal rights as a member of the American Indian Movement. 'He represents every person who's been roughed up by a cop, profiled, had their children harassed at school,' said Nick Estes, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe who advocated for Peltier's release. Biden did not pardon Peltier. But his Jan. 20 commutation of Peltier's sentence to home confinement, noting Peltier had spent most of his life behind bars and was in poor health, prompted criticism from those who believe Peltier is guilty. Among them is former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who called Peltier 'a remorseless killer' in a private letter to Biden obtained by The Associated Press. One of his attorneys, Jenipher Jones, said Peltier was looking forward to going home. 'We're so excited for this moment,' Jones said before his release. 'He is in good spirits. He has the soul of a warrior.' His supporters outside the prison, including some who waved flags saying 'Free Leonard Peltier,' were elated. 'We never thought he would get out,' said Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who traveled to Florida to be there for Peltier's release. 'It shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.' Peltier was active in AIM, which formed in the 1960s and fought for Native American treaty rights and tribal self-determination. Peltier's conviction stemmed from a 1975 confrontation on the in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in which the two FBI agents were killed. According to the FBI, Coler and Williams were there to serve arrest warrants for robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors maintained at trial that Peltier shot both agents in the head at point-blank range. Peltier acknowledged being present and firing a gun at a distance, but he said he fired in self-defense and that his shots weren't the ones that killed the agents. A woman who claimed to have seen Peltier shoot the agents later recanted her testimony, saying it had been coerced. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given two consecutive life sentences. Two other AIM members, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. Many of Peltier's supporters and even some prosecutors have questioned the fairness of his trial and the evidence presented against him. But Michael J. Clark, president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, pointed out that numerous federal judges have denied Peltier's appeals. 'We strongly oppose the commutation of his sentence,' Clark said, calling the decision a 'poor reflection' on Biden. 'This was kind of sprung on everyone at the last minute. Literally in the last minute of his presidency. It's just tough.' Peltier was denied parole as recently as July and was not eligible to be considered for it again until 2026. As a young child, Peltier was taken from his family and sent to a boarding school. Thousands of Indigenous children over decades faced the same fate, and were in many cases subjected to systemic physical, psychological and sexual abuse. 'He hasn't really had a home since he was taken away to boarding school,' said Nick Tilsen, who advocated for Peltier's release for years and is CEO of NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group based in South Dakota. 'So he is excited to be at home and paint and have grandkids running around.'
